Learn More About The Immigration Fund

Insignia Pathway is dedicated to removing the financial barriers that discourage foreign Registered Nurses from obtaining visas to enter the U.S. and work for skilled nursing facilities.

Skilled nursing facilities most often serve society’s most vulnerable patients who require daily skilled nursing services on a
short- or long-term basis.  These residents tend to be elderly and/or have disabling health conditions. Skilled nursing facilities employ Registered Nurses to provide direct nursing care to their resident population.

  • Individuals who meet the following criteria are eligible:

    1. Individuals who are not United States (U.S.) Citizens; and

    2. Are licensed or eligible for licensure as a Registered Nurse outside or within the U.S.; and

    3. Are eligible for a U.S. immigrant or non-immigrant visa; and

    4. Have, at the time of submission of the IPHF Grant Application, a pending petition for a U.S. visa sponsored by:

      • a U.S. state licensed skilled nursing facility sponsor/employer based on the position of Registered Nurse (R.N.); or

      • a staffing agency that will employ the applicant to work in a U.S. state licensed skilled nursing facilities; and

    5. Possess the required education to become a licensed R.N. in their intended state of employment; and

    6. Are committed to working as a R.N. for a U.S. state licensed skilled nursing facility for a minimum three (3) year period.

  • If your grant application is approved, you will receive a grant award email letter detailing the amount awarded, assigning a grant number and providing instructions on how to receive grant funds.  Please use your name and grant number in all correspondence with Insignia Pathway representatives.  You will receive an email letter if your grant application is denied.

  • It generally takes 15-30 days for a determination on your grant application to be made.  But the amount of time may vary depending on the volume of applications received.  Insignia Pathway will do its best to process applications in a timely manner.

  • Yes, as long as you will work for your new sponsor/employer in an R.N. position and your new sponsor/employer is a state licensed skilled nursing facility or a staffing agency that provides R.N. labor to state licensed skilled nursing facilities.  In the event that you have a change of sponsor/employer, please notify Insignia Pathway in writing of the name, address and telephone number of your new sponsor/employer by sending an email to: Contact@insigniapathway.org.  Please include your full name and grant number in all correspondence.

  • Grant awards are given for costs associated with the R.N.’s visa process and transition to the United States. Expense types such as NCLEX Testing, Visa Screen, state R.N. licensure fees, legal fees (if billed to the R.N.), medical exams, and R.N. travel are most common. Awards will be granted up to a maximum amount as stated in the grant award email letter. Receipts are required to be submitted for items paid to third parties (e.g., receipt for Visa Screen from CGFNS/TruMerit). No receipts are required to support an award of living expenses as it is assumed that you will incur living expenses upon arrival in the U.S.

  • You must submit your requests for payment and the required supporting documentation no later than three (3) months from the time you arrive in the United States. A request for extension may be considered but will require approval by the IPIF Committee. All unexpended funds are subject to being withheld by the IPIF Committee.

  • No. The IPIF is intended to pay for expenses incurred by the R.N., not the sponsor/employer. If your sponsor/employer has agreed to pay or reimburse you for any expenses, you should not request payment for that expense in your grant application. The IPIF will not make payments to sponsors/employers or any other third party other than those listed in FAQ No. 2 above (e.g., law firm, Department of State, travel agency).

  • Yes. An applicant may only be approved for one IPIF grant per visa. Applicants should submit an application for all categories of expenses incurred or anticipated on the same application. If the exact amount of an expense is currently unknown, provide an estimated amount based on your research. Applicants who apply for a new visa after working in the U.S. (e.g., work under a TN Visa but later want to pursue an I-140 immigrant visa) may apply for another grant provided they meet all grant criteria.

  • Then you may indicate that your U.S. address is “to be determined.” Insignia Pathway will contact you for a current U.S. mailing address before it sends any payment to that address. Once approved, you may notify Insignia Pathway of your current U.S. mailing address by sending us an email. Please use your name and grant number in all correspondence with Insignia Pathway representatives.

  • Please send an email to: contact@insigniapathway.org. If you have an approved grant, please include your full name and grant number in all correspondence.  We will respond as soon as we are able.